This weekend, Karoleena Custom Homes, a home builder in Calgary, will debut its first eco-friendly modular cabin. Karo Cabin is a factory-built, future-ready structure designed to be used as a summer escape, backyard studio, laneway house, or something similar and can be delivered anywhere in North America (assuming a road or ferry route).

This curvy work pod was designed by Thomas Biggs and features interior furniture elements — lift-open cabinets and a Murphy bench — from Tony Carr. Biggs and Carr offer these eco-friendly pods for sale through Sustainsia, Inc., with the hope of providing an at-home work environment that's nothing like the typical cubicle. Green elements include rooftop solar, R30 insulation, and eco-friendly materials, while pricing could be anywhere from $10,000, according to East Bay Express.

This lakeside retreat was put together with used shipping containers and timber from weapon boxes in the Maduru Oya area of Sri Lanka, according to Dezeen. Located on an army training camp, this simple container solution was designed by Damith Premathilake and built by soldiers with materials found in the area. It's now become "the ideal destination for the traveler seeking a relaxing and rustic vacation." What do you think about it?

One of the entries this year in Project Playhouse, an annual fundraiser by HomeAid, is a net-zero playhouse called the Ocean Adventure Lab. The structure, designed by LPA Inc. and built by Turner Construction, will be auctioned off in early September. In the mean time, it's on display at the Irvine Spectrum Center illustrating a number of sustainable elements.

Alan Stulberg, a vintage motorcycle builder and mechanic, has been thinking about this project for nearly six years. Deciding to take the plunge, he drew a rough sketch one day and five months later, here’s the Studio Pod. Stulberg built the container studio in his backyard in Austin, Texas, and it’s now being used as a creative artist space.

Sunset has the story on this off-grid, low-impact, affordable shelter built in the wilderness near Joseph, Oregon. The modern structure of 130 square feet, not counting the deck, was designed by Ryan Lingard and built in a couple weeks for roughly $10,000. Signal Shed has a wood stove, metal roof, cedar rainscreen, reused windows, portable toilet, and operable shutters.